One of the many important questions in Philippine foreign policy that has been consistently asked by Filipinos and people in the foreign policy circle ever since the Philippines received its independence from the United States (US) in 1946 is, “are Filipinos better off with the Americans, or without them?”  It can be noted that on 4 July, 1946, the Philippines was granted full independence by the United States (US), nevertheless, before that, the country was a protectorate of the US.

The bilateral relations between the United States (US) and the Philippines are currently at a critical juncture. This is because of the latest tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte telling the Americans that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the US and the Philippines is a “shared responsibility,” therefore, the US must pay or kiss it goodbye.

The breakthrough in the development and availability of COVID-19 vaccines is a leap forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This positive development brings hope to the world.

Amidst the economic recession being experienced by the Philippines and the world at large caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure development through the “Build Build Build” (BBB) program of the Duterte administration is said to be one of the key drivers if not the main driver of the economic recovery of the country. The “BBB” program is anchored on Duterte’s long-time conviction and advocacy for a more balanced and responsive regional/countryside development for the country.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 27 July, President Rodrigo Duterte stated that, “Within ASEAN and beyond, the Philippines will continue to work with partners to address global perils and ramp up cooperation to secure for our peoples, greater peace, progress, and prosperity. The Filipino nation claims its rightful place in the community of sovereign states.

War is hell, no doubt about it. In whatever sense, armed conflict always generates misery, despair, and torment in the affected communities. It causes death and destruction and kills innocent civilians not just combatants.The Philippines, like some other countries in Asia and the Pacific and even beyond has been a site where localised conflicts between non-state armed groups and state forces occur on a regular basis.

The Philippines just recently experienced five typhoons in a row and that’s within at least a month only.

On 13 September, the Philippines released and deported United States (US) Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton after President Rodrigo Duterte granted him “absolute pardon” for killing Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a Filipino transgender woman in 2014.  Serving less than six years of his 10-year prison term, Pemberton’s early release sparked public outcry in the country due to a host of other issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic has to a considerable degree exposed the Philippines to several vulnerabilities, which include the knock-on effect of the pandemic on the country’s economy, weakness of the country’s existing health care system and infrastructures, and threats to food security because of the fragile agriculture and food systems of the country.

The Duterte administration’s “war against illegal drugs” thus far is one among many controversial issues that has received a great deal of media attention both, locally and internationally and has earned extra attention in foreign policy circles and among local and international human rights organisations. The elimination of the drug problem in the country is one of Duterte’s campaign promises from the 2016 national elections.